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“Your breast cancer has come back. It’s stage 4 and you have less than six months to live. Do you believe in miracles?”

Those words hit me like a punch in the face. I was paralyzed; I felt numb. I was frozen in time as my body filled with anger, rage and disappointment. I didn’t quite comprehend what the doctor said to me until he repeated it again, “Do you believe in miracles?”

Suddenly, I responded. “Yes.” And with the help of my faith and God, I walked out of his office with the determination to beat my disease.

At 35 years old, I couldn’t fathom my life ending so quickly. Was I really going to die of breast cancer like my mother had 12 years before? This couldn’t be my life. I was still dreaming of getting married and having children, traveling the world and enjoying life. I never imagined I would die so abruptly. I told myself, “This isn’t my life. This can’t be me. I AM A WARRIOR!”

This proclamation was the beginning of my journey to find the courage, power and warrior strength I needed to overcome my diagnosis. I found a wonderful oncologist recommended by my internist, and she gave me hope. She said, “Some people can live with stage 4 breast cancer for 20-plus years and some people can die within the first three months. Everyone is an individual, and every cancer is different.”

With the support of my family, I made the decision to start treatment immediately, beginning with chemotherapy. Despite my fear of being pushed into early menopause, I realized my life was more important. With everything happening so fast, I didn’t know where to start. I decided it was time to read, pray, and make some changes.

Finding Strength in Faith and Better Food

I went home and got on my knees. I needed to be alone with God and talk to him, just the two of us. I didn’t believe it was my time, and I knew if I beat my disease it would confirm my life purpose and allow me to share my story with those battling similar situations.

“I have to do the work,” I told myself. And so I did a great deal of research and read a lot of books. All of the information I found led me to the same conclusion: Diet and exercise are key. I realized I had to change everything about my life if I wanted to get results. I had to change my thoughts and my attitude. I changed my diet completely. I cut out fatty meats, dairy, and sugar, and started to incorporate green juices, vegetables, brown rice, and fiber.

In time, I started exercising four to five times a week. After discovering frequent exercise could lower the chance of breast cancer recurring , I became vigilant in committing to a consistent regimen. I researched acupuncture and supplements. I became an advocate for mixing eastern and western medicine. Occasionally, I would eat gummy bears and munch on sugar because, like all people, I had cravings I needed to cater to. But still, I stayed true to my plan. I had to see if it would work.

A Serious Scare About Another Cancer

Three months after my stage 4 diagnosis, I returned to the doctor’s office for my first scan since making all these changes and received one of the biggest scares of my life. The doctors thought I had a rare spinal cancer, leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Aggressive, lethal, and terminal, the disease can lead to death within four to six weeks. I couldn’t handle another diagnosis. This would destroy me. My doctors suggested re-running the tests and scans. I was against it, convinced I didn’t want to know. Nevertheless, I agreed. I told no one what I was going through. I wanted to deal with death without being known as the sick girl with all the issues. I was afraid.

Later that day, my doctor called. “We have concluded that you are fine. There is no leptomeningeal. We sent your scans to Mt. Sinai, Cornell, Sloan Kettering, and Johns Hopkins and they all concluded there was no evidence of disease.” That was the happiest day of my life. They didn’t see the cancer anymore.

Stop Suffering in Silence

I’m convinced I’m still alive because of my change in eating, exercising, praying and meditating. I also realized it was time to open up and stop hiding. We all hide our issues, sickness, fears and doubts trying to make it seem like our lives are perfect when we’re really suffering in silence.

That’s why I created my website, URAWARRIOR.COM. We all need a place we can go to for support, inspiration and motivation; a place to depend on each other and heal through human connection. Whether someone is dealing with a life-altering situation or everyday troubles, no one should suffer in silence.

Stage 4 breast cancer changed my life. It was a gift and a curse. However, my journey made me realize who I am. Not only that, it catapulted me into greatness and helped me find my inner warrior. I was determined to keep on living, and that’s just what I’m doing.

Bershan Shaw is a certified life coach and founder of UR A Warrior, an online social networking site for support. Bershan’s life goal is to help people reinvent themselves, step into their greatness and find their warrior within. Five years after her diagnosis, Bershan has no evidence of disease and is helping others become warriors. Bershan can be seen on Own’s docu-series ‘Love in the City. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Last Updated:6/12/2014

Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health. See More

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